Hop Butcher Elder Secrets of an Ancient Past 4Pk

Hop Butcher Elder Secrets of an Ancient Past 4Pk is a Double IPA brewed with El Dorado and Vic Secret hops, packaged in a 4-pack of 16 oz cans at 7.5% ABV. This release earned a 94 score on BeerAdvocate and holds a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 7,700 reviews — placing it firmly among the brewery's most acclaimed limited offerings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Bedford Park, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Bedford Park, a suburb southwest of Chicago, and has built a devoted following through relentless rotation of hop-forward releases. Elder Secrets of an Ancient Past features a dual-hop bill of El Dorado and Vic Secret — two varieties prized for their complementary tropical and stone fruit characteristics. The brewery's defining edge is its fresh-to-retail distribution model: cans are often packaged just hours or days before arriving at retailers, ensuring the volatile hop aromatics reach drinkers at peak intensity rather than fading on a warehouse shelf.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pineapple and candied orange hit first, followed by layers of tangerine zest, mango, and a subtle undercurrent of grassy pine. The nose is intensely fragrant without veering into harsh resinousness.

Taste: The entry is juicy and full, leading with pineapple and guava that roll across the mid-palate. Tangerine and orange zest build through the middle, joined by light stone fruit and a creamy, slightly sweet malt backbone that keeps the bitterness in check. A flash of grapefruit emerges near the peak, adding tartness without overwhelming the tropical core.

Finish: Medium in length with light pine resin and a gentle, lingering bitterness that dries cleanly. A faint mint-like coolness and residual citrus oil linger on the palate.

How to Drink Elder Secrets

Pour cold — around 40–45°F — into a tulip glass or stemless IPA glass to concentrate the aromatic hop oils. Drinking from the can sacrifices much of the aroma experience, so glassware is strongly recommended for a beer this hop-forward. For a Hop Radler, combine a half-pour with fresh grapefruit juice over ice for a sessionable warm-weather drink. It also works in a Citrus Shandy variation, cut with lemon sparkling water and a spoonful of honey to play up the tropical fruit. A Michelada-style build with lime, hot sauce, and a splash of pineapple juice creates an unexpected but effective pairing with Elder Secrets' juicy hop character.

Best For

• Bringing to a craft beer share or bottle trade as a sought-after Midwest release
• Converting wine drinkers who enjoy aromatic, fruit-driven beverages
• Pairing with a backyard cookout featuring bold, smoky flavors
• Gifting a hop-obsessed friend who tracks limited DIPA drops

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Elder Secrets taste like? Elder Secrets is dominated by tropical fruit — pineapple, tangerine, and guava — layered over a creamy malt body with light pine and a clean, moderate bitterness on the close.

How does Elder Secrets compare to Toppling Goliath King Sue? Both are highly rated Midwest Double IPAs with tropical profiles, but King Sue leans heavily on Citra hops for a more singular citrus-and-mango punch, while Elder Secrets uses El Dorado and Vic Secret for a broader spectrum that includes pineapple, stone fruit, and grassy pine.

Is Elder Secrets good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its 7.5% ABV sits at the approachable end of the Double IPA range, and the creamy body and restrained bitterness make it a comfortable standalone pour without requiring food.

Where is Elder Secrets made? Elder Secrets of an Ancient Past is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Bedford Park, Illinois, located just outside Chicago in the south suburbs.

What foods pair well with Elder Secrets? Spicy Thai basil chicken mirrors the beer's tropical fruit and provides contrast against its bitterness. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the citrus and stone fruit notes. Sharp aged cheddar stands up to the hop intensity and complements the creamy malt. Grilled pineapple with a chili-lime glaze amplifies the beer's core tropical character. Carnitas with pickled onion offer richness and acidity that balance the hop oils.

What sizes does Elder Secrets come in? Elder Secrets of an Ancient Past is sold as a 4-pack of 16 oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating DIPA releases.

Is Elder Secrets worth the price? Elder Secrets positions in the premium craft tier typical of small-batch, limited-rotation Double IPAs from top-rated Midwest breweries, and its 94 BeerAdvocate score and fresh-to-retail model support that positioning with measurable quality.

Why Elder Secrets?

The fresh-to-retail distribution model is not marketing language — it is a logistical commitment that most breweries cannot or will not make, and it directly impacts hop aroma retention in a style where freshness defines the drinking experience. The El Dorado and Vic Secret hop combination produces a wider tropical spectrum than single-hop DIPAs, giving Elder Secrets a complexity that justifies close attention in the glass. A 94 on BeerAdvocate across dozens of reviews signals consistent execution rather than a one-off breakout. For drinkers who care about drinking hops at their peak, this is a release built around that exact promise.